Aromatherapy to Treat Hair Loss

Not all hair loss is created equal. One form of hair loss that affects both men and women is alopecia areata, a highly unpredictable and cyclical condition caused by an autoimmune disease of the skin. The condition causes affected hair follicles to become very small, often resulting in no visible hair above the surface of the skin. The good news is, most of the hair follicles remain alive and able to resume normal hair production once the appropriate trigger is received. The bad news is, nobody really knows what that trigger is, and triggers that do work, don’t work on all patients.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, one study had promising results from aromatherapy massage. The study indicated that massaging the scalp with a combination of essential oils, including rosemary, lavender, cedarwood and thyme resulted in improved hair growth. The study noted that essential oils can be toxic, so they were mixed with a carrier oil such as grapeseed or jojoba at a ratio of 3 to 6 drops of essential oil to 1 tablespoon of carrier oil, prior to applying them to the skin or scalp.

The results are only from a single study, so more research needs to be done. If you are suffering from hair loss, it’s always a good idea to seek professional help from a qualified health care professional.